Hello! Welcome to the first MPM of June 2013! I can’t believe it’s June already…this month is super busy for us as it’s the last month of the school year. So many end of school activities, blah. Can’t wait till it’s all done! I’m really jealous of all of you that are already done and now into enjoying summer.

Recipe Highlight:

Last week’s recipe highlight definitely goes to the Chili Pasta Skillet. It was super easy to throw together. I made a couple of changes though….I used rotini rice pasta and instead of tomatoes just added a small can of tomato sauce. It was good!

Giveaway:

Today I’m excited to tell you about a brand new book out called Fearless Feeding by Jill Castle and Maryann Jacobsen. Maryann has a blog called Raise Healthy Eaters and is a long time Menu Plan Monday participant. I’ve linked many times to blog posts Maryann has written because I’ve found them so helpful. I’m so excited for her and Jill and the release of their fantastic new book designed to teach us how to raise healthy eaters from high chair to high school. Both Maryann and Jill are registered dietitians with many years of experience.

I honestly can’t say enough good things about this book and highly recommend it to any parent that is responsible for feeding a child. Over the years I’ve not only dealt with picky eaters but also a highly food allergic child with severe food aversions and this book would have been a lifesaver for me. Although believe me this book isn’t just for picky eaters. It’s for kids of all ages and how to help them eat a healthy balanced diet using the fearless fundamentals of what, how and why.

Fearless Feeding is your comprehensive and credible road map to conquering all of the modern-day nutrition and feeding obstacles. This book is filled with positive strategies for raising healthy kids. Make these components part of how you feed your child, and you will have a much easier time navigating nutrition. And, best of all, your fear, worry, and guilt will melt away.

There is also a whole chapter on meal planning and shopping strategies that is full of fearless facts and tips to help you successfully manage menu planning for the whole family.

Today I have a copy of Fearless Feeding to giveaway to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment on this post telling me you’d like to be entered. The giveaway will close on Sunday, June 9th at 4:00 pm PST. Open to everyone. Good luck!

Yay! What a great looking book. Would love to get a copy! Last week I remembered to follow the menu plan. I think I enjoyed cooking more because of it. That seems silly but I am slowly breaking bad habits (like making lists and not posting them anywhere visible). Thanks for the link party and the giveaway.

I would love to have that book. I have been really trying to get myself organized as so many changes are happening here at home. What with summer visitors, vacation, new grand baby due to arrive, and a complete kitchen remodel. I am sure hoping that Menu planning will be a key part of keeping sane.

That book looks extremely helpful! My kids are very picky, but feeding them healthy meals is very important to me. I like how it mentions teaching them good eating habits. That’s the most important way to ensure their future health. (I’m always telling them that are not going to live on frozen pizza and ramen noodles when they move out of my house! That’s why I have them cook with me…) Anyway, I’d love to win this book! Thanks for the chance!

Raising healthy kids is my name goal, I struggled w parents not emphasizing good eating habits and now I’m trying to turn it around it my kids :) I’m very excited for this book and cant wait to read it :)

Oh my, that sounds familiar. My almost 5 year old eats peanut butter and…peanut butter. The 12 month old eats anything that isn’t moving. And in the middle, my 3 year old who used to eat everything has started listening when her big brother tells her that they don’t like [fill in the blank]. Trying to keep everyone fed is an almost impossible task. If my husband didn’t cook, I don’t know if we’d eat anything more than cereal. I can barely feed myself. I’m willing to learn how to provide healthy meals, but without direction or help it feels like a hopeless cause. This book looks like it could actually equip me with useful information and new skills. And winning it would be a bonus. ;)

I would love to be entered! I’m making an effort to feed my 3 children healthier/ better. I know the value of family meals and need to shift priorities to bring this one back… sports and extracurricular schedules have been getting the best of us, but I know with a little advance planning I can do it!

I would love to win a copy of the Fearless Feeding book! My 7 year old is very picky and often will not eat what we make for dinner…I worry he is not getting enough and have had to find things he will eat as a meal when he does not like what the rest of us are eating!

I’d love to win a copy, but just in case I am headed over to amazon to add this book to my wish list. I have four kids who love their junk. One has allergies and the youngest is now heavier than his older (by two years) brother. He’s like a bottomless pit and loves his sweets. I need guidance! Thanks for offering this. . . love your site!

I would love to win this book. Currently I am battling how to plan healthy meals for my twin girls that are 20 months old. I don’t want them to grow up thinking fast food is just part of our every week menu! I have one good eater and one picky eater. Makes for challenging meal planning!

Please enter me into this contest. This book might be a lifesaver for my family. I have a set of 12 year old twins who have food aversions (no allergies though.) They eat the same meals for lunch and dinner with very little variation. They ate fine as babies and toddlers, but at some point started gagging and crying when new foods are introduced. If this book has tips that would help me and them get some variation into their diet, I would be forever grateful.

Would love a copy of the book! Have kids and one “big” kid who I constantly struggle to keep full and healthy. Always looking for new ideas, strategies and recipes to keep the meals coming as fast as they can eat them!

Great giveaway. Wow, sounds like this is the book I need. Don’t think a day goes by where I don’t say “why won’t she eat, it’s so frustrating. She ate ____ yesterday and won’t touch it today. argh!” The joys of an 18mos old picky eater :)

Great book. WOuld love to win this for healthier meals for my 8 year old who tends to eat not healthy and for my 10 year old who is picky and I have food allergies. So meal time is definately a challenge!

This book looks great. I’m a Registered Dietitian (and mom) and hadn’t heard about this book yet. I can’t wait to check it out! Always looking for great resources that encourage healthy eating for families. I have enjoyed and recommended the book Baby Bites by Bridget Swinney (RD) which has information about feeding babies through toddlers. This new book looks like a great addition to that and a good resource following toddlerhood! Thank you!

(sorry, posted too early as I type this with a baby in my arms!) I was just saying the Fearless Feeding book would also be useful in my work with children with feeding problems, thanks for entering me!